Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-03


THE RAILROAD STRIKES.
Report OF the House Special Committee
TIE MISSOURI PACIFIC oUTBREAk-THE LOSSES FIG
URRD uP-RIaHTs OF LABOR DISCUSSED.
Chairman Curtin, OF the select committee
created by the House OF Representatives to in
quire into the cause and extent OF western rail-
road strikes to-day submitted the report OF that
committee. By far the larger part OF the report is
devoted to history OF the origin and progress Of
the Missouri Pacific strike and a recapitulatOn OF
the testimony taken by the committed In sum-
ming up the report says:
STRIKE LOSSES
1.-THE effect OF the strike was and is serious loss
10 the business interests OF that section OF the
country. The public generally, the producing
classes and the mercantile population suffered even
more than the strikers on the railroads for their
strikers alone-9,OOO OF them for NIFTY days at 81
Gay, would amount to the enormous sum OF
100000. The loss OF the non-striking employees
necessarily deprived OF employment during the
strike Is roughly estimated at $500, 600 The loss
OF property 70 the Missouri Pacific and the loss OF
fssenae TO INNS taking the earnings
loss to the general public certainly amoun to
millions OF dollars.
THE RIGHTS OF woRKMKN.
With regard to the general question OF the right OF
workmen to combine for determining with their
employers the terms on which only they will con-
sent TO work for them, provided the combination
be perfectly voluntary and full liberty be left TO
all other wOrkmen to undertake the work and no
obstruction be placed in the way Of the employed
reSOrt1ng elsewhere In this country in search OF
supply OF labor, we think there Is no ground in
justice or sound policy for Withholding such a
that demand, backed by the resolution of a large
body OF wOrkmen, to decline work II the d@nand
be not acceded to. comes with more force than
that OF an Isolated workman.
PROTECTION OF NoN-srRrKERS
The workmen may reasonably claim to be al
lowed any advantage which they can derive from
such concerted action in bargaining with their en-
pl0yer, from time to time to the terms on which
they will dispose OF their labor But upon the
whilst conceding to such workmen as desire to ex,
ercise it, and extended right to combine against
their employers, especial care should be taken
desire to keep aioof from the combination and dis
pose of their labor with perfect individual freedom
The workmen who think It for their advantage
to combine together In the disposal OF their labor
are no more justified in cOnStrainlng any other
workman who does not desire to enter such COM
binat1On and bring his labor into the common
stock with theirs than an association OF capital
lists are, in combining to advance prices or rates
OF transportation, to be paid by the general pub
lie. There can be no doubt that the concentration
OF wealth and power and the expressions which
have occurred, as shown In the evidence taken
may have promoted the unrest Of labor is pain
fully apparent.
PROTECTION TO CAPITAL.
Whatever remedy will give the proper protec-
ton to the capital invested In the railroads OF the
country and at the same time protect their en-
ployes from injustice and oppression, your CON-
mittee propose that they shall together, a SIN
gle instrument OF our interstate commerce, be
looked upon as the servants or the people OF the
United States, and as such be regulated and pro-
tected by law. Whatever may be the defects OF
the interstate commerce law, an enlightened CON-
mission, soon TO be appointed, will recommend
prompt legislation to give the protection which is
needed to those who are interested only in the
regular and proper operation and management OF
the railroads.
ARBITRATION NOT A REMEDY.
A majority Ut your committee cannot believe
that arbitration can be effective for the reason
that there must be two parties to the arbitration
and either my decline And when disturbances
occur II would not be effective in Immediately re-
dressing WRONGS restoring the means OF transit
or persons and property TO the people OF the
country.
THEY HAD REASON TO COMPLAIN.
It Will be found in the evidence that there were
grievances OF which the labOrers and worktngmen
OF the roads have just reason to complain and these
NAV .e ext nded or enlarged the strike The gen.
eral Oppression or grievances complained OF were
generally by SuDordinateS who had power over
certain labOrers or persons employed on the road.
NOticeably, they were asked TO work more hours
than were contracted for; they were reduced In
their time without notice; they were carried by the
railroads in the night without provision being made
whereby they could obtain sleep. to make repairs
of bridges or on parts OF the road which had been
destroyed by accident, or they were not allowed
pay for travelling at night, and In some instances
even were not given transportation on the road
back to their homes. These grievancesecwere to a
great extent unhappy Incidents In the disputes
leading to the strike.
It is also shown that the great Texas and Pacific
company had what known asa black list which
contained the names OF some OF the persons. BY
no combination OF capital or TO extent OF incOr-
porated power can the listing OF an American
citizen as being unworthy Of employment be justi-
fed. Having cited the express provision OF
the Constitution, authorizing Congress to regulate
commerce among the states We need but REFER to
the statutes enacted protecting post roads; and
those regulating commerce upon the high seas and
on our navigable rivers In defining the duties OBJ
legations Of and penalties engaged therein, as
proof that ample power to control and regulate
SO far Interstate commerce Is involved, as well
the rights and duties OF the employers as OF the
employees therein exists, and has been and may be
further exercised.
This is a unanimous report, but it must be re-
membered that all leg1Sationts the result OF CON-
promise, and therefore individual members OF the
committee reserve the right to differ from some OF
the conclusions"
A statement attached to the report shows that
the expenses OF the Investigation aggregated
a ,OO2.